Al Andulus Arrival

Today is our first day on the Al Andulus train. Between check-in and departure, the company organizes a bus tour of Seville with a stop at the cathedral. The Giralda is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Seville. Its height is 343 feet . The Giralda is the former minaret of the mosque that stood on the site under Muslim rule, and was built to resemble the minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, Morocco. It was converted into a bell tower for the cathedral after the Reconquista, although the topmost section dates from the Renaissance. CJ elects to go to the top expecting an elevator; its a bloody long climb; but the views of the city, Alcazar and cathedral are impressive.
 

 

The group enjoys a traditional lunch is the restaurant of a very nice local hotel.

The  train departs on time and travels through cotton fields, passes through Jerez de la Frontera  before stopping at the El Puerto de Santa Maria station. A bus and ferry deposit us in the oldest city in Western Europe, Cádiz.

After a short evening walk in the city we return to the train for dinner and entertainment by a traditional Spanish singer/dancer accompanied by excellent guitar.